Left to Right, MVHS team members, Deb Lascala, RN and Bonnie Evans, RN, hold the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program’s “Gold Safe Sleep Champion” certificate for commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. MVHS is one of the first hospitals in New York State to receive this title.

For Immediate ReleaseDecember 30, 2016

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has been recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a “Gold Safe Sleep Champion,”for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. MVHS is one of the first hospitals in New York State to receive this title.

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, a Pittsburgh-based organization dedicated to preventing infant, sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. In addition to being Cribs for Kids® partners, MVHS was recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and providing training programs for parents, staff and the community.

"We have worked hard to align our policies and practices to promote safe sleep,”said Laura Bailey, BSN, RN-C, nurse manager of Maternal Child Services at MVHS.“We are thrilled that we have earned this designation. We are hopeful that our commitment to educating the community on safe sleep-related practices will reduce sleep-related deaths."

“Sleep-Related Death results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the United States,” said Michael H. Goodstein, MD, neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®. “We know that consistent education can have a profound effect on infant mortality, and this program is designed to encourage safe sleep education and to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations. One hundred, thirty-nine hospitals in 33 states and Quebec, Canada, are represented among the hospitals which have achieved the ‘Gold Champion’ status, or are working their way toward it.